George a



(No Model.)

G. A. NEWTON.

WAISTBAND ATTACHMENT.

No. 389,162. Patented Sept. 4, 1888.

PETKRS. Phmoilliwgraphor. wnningwm ac.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. NEWTON, OF BROOKLYN, NEWV YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO SAMUEL WV. HURLEY, OF SAME PLACE.

WAISTBAND ATTACHMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part oLLetters Patent No. 389,162, dated Septem e 1838- Application tiled July 5, 1888. Serial No. 279,103.

(No model.)

T at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. N WTON, a

citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garment Attachments, of which the following is a specification sufficient to enable others skilled in the art to which the invention appertains to make and use the same.

My improvements relate to the means our ployed for connecting pantaloons or lower garments to upper garments or shirt-waists, the object being to obviate all undue strain upon the garments and all discomfort to the wearer when bending forward. The garments being formed and combined relatively so as to fit the wearer when standing upright, it is obvious that in the case of a rigid connection, such as heretofore used, between the garments the act of bending the body forward to any considerable degree or of sitting down will be rendered not only uncomfortable but practically impossible, involving the danger of severing the connections or tearing the adjoining portions of the garments.

I am aware that heretofore waistbands have been re-cnforced with elastic strips extending obliquely across such bands; but my invention is entirely distinct from such an arrangement, it being immaterial whether a waistband is used or not, since my elastic couplings may be attached directly near the edge of either garment to connect with buttons or analogous devices arranged at or near the opposite edge of the other garment.

I am also aware that an elastic strap attached to a waistband has been provided with buttonloops and with intermediate stays through which the band could slide; but such is not the equivalent of my invention,which consists, essentially, in the combination and arrangement, substantially as hereinafter set forth, of a laterally-extending elastic cord fastened at both ends to the garment and formed with an intermediate butto11-loop or equivalent con necting device, and a central stationary support secured to the garment and formed with two opposed bearings-one for each of the said lateral extensionsthe said parts being relatively arranged in such manner that when the loop or connecting device is pulled outward the strain will be distributed throughout the cord longitudinally, the attenuation allowing the loop and adjoining portion of the elastic cord to extend upward vertically at right angles to the remaining portions of the elastic extensions, which maintain their horizontal alignment under all circumstances. As a result of this construction, the longitudinal elas- 6o ticity of the cord is immediately brought into play during use and directed by the bearings accurately-into the proper direction to be most effective, whereas in both of the cases referred to above the strain of use displaces the elastic material obliquely and its longitudinal resistance is not fully brought into play until the garments have separated to an objectionable degree, the connection between the garments in such cases being too loose, whereas my ar- 7c rangement holds the parts taut under all conditions and draws the garments snugly and evenly together with a uniform tension. According to my construction each loop with its lateral extension is independent in action and there can be no slipping 0r sliding of the elastic cord out of its normal position. The strain in use is also distributed more evenly and directly around the person of the wearer, thus counteracting all tendency to unduly wrench, 8c

pucker, or tear certain parts, and preserving the symmetry of the garments.

In actual use it is desirable that the fastening devices upon the garments shall be arranged as near the adjoining edges thereof as practicable, in order to avoid the wrinkling or folding over of the edges, and for this reason my lateral extension of the couplings along the edges of the garments is designed especially to attain the advantage of a comparatively long 9c the identical form and construction of parts shown, since it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without devi ating materially from the essential features of my invention.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the inner side of a portion of the lower garment and the outer side of a portion of the upper garment, illustrating the arrangement of my improved form of coupling between the waistband of the lower garment and the upper portion of said lower garment. Fig.2isaview of therearside of the waistband, showing three loops connected with each other by the lateral extension 5 Fig. 3,a view showing a modified form of fastening or bearing-piece in which anti-friction rollers are used; Fig. 4, a view showing a modification in the construction of the lateral extension in which coiled metallic springs are used; Fig.5, a sectional view of adjoining portions of an upper and lower garment as attached to each other.

In the drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views, A represents the lower portion of an upper garment such as a shirt-waist or similar article of appareland B represents a portion of the upper edge of a pair of pantalocus or similar garment.

The coupling C may manifestly be attached to either garment viith like result, although ordinarily it will be attached to the nether garment B. The latter may be provided with the waistband B, if preferred, although this is not material, since the coupling 0 may be attached directly to the inner side of the garment.

The coupling 0 consists, essentially, of one or more loops or equivalent connecting devices, 0, (as, for instance, the hooks c, Fig. 3.) con nected with lateral extensions 0', which pass around suitable bearings, D, and are secured at opposite ends to the garment. The connecting devices 0 may'consist of safety hooks or pins in certain cases where buttons, &c., are unprovided or are not desirable.

The whole coupling 0 may be conveniently formed of a single length of elastic cord, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, or of a series of elastic cords joined by the connecting device a, as shown in Fig. 3, or the connecting device c 0' may be connected with one or more laterally-arranged coiled metallic springs, O G, as shown in Fig. 5, in either case the result and the means of attaining it being substantially identical.

The bearing pieces D may be constructed in various ways, their main purpose being to atford stationary fulcrnms or guides d d for the support and direction of the lateral extensions 0 under all circumstances. When constructed as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the elastic cord is passed through the guides 01 d preparatory to the formation of the loops 0 0, the opposite extremities of the cord being secured to the garment by sewing or other suitable means. It

is also desirable in such case to secure the cord to the garment at intermediate points between the loops 0, so as to render each connecting device independent in action.

In Fig. 3 a modified bearing, D, is shown, provided with anti-friction rollers d, against which the lateral extensions 0 bear in lieu of the curved metal surfaces d d. (Shown in Fig. 2.) The bearings D may be made of sheet metal struck up into the required shape, or their mechanical equivalents in any form may be substituted, the essential feature in this connection being the provision of means for turning or deflecting as well as supporting and retaining the lateral extension 0 below the loop or coupling device 0.

In use the loops, hooks, or other coupling devices 0 c are connected to the opposed buttons, hooks, or eyes a a. as the case may be, causing the coupling 0 to draw the adjoining portions of the two garments together, so that they overlap in the usual manner. The act of bending the body forward creates a strain upon the transverse extensions 0'. which, owing to their elasticity, elongate sufficiently to relieve both garments of undue tension. Upon the wearer again assuming the upright position the resilience of the lateral extensions 0 causes the retractile movement of the parts into their normal positions. The arrangement and construction of parts is such that new couplings O can be readily substituted for those that become worn or defective.

I have herein shown and described my invention as applied to the connection of two separate garments, although I do not wish to confine myself exclusively to such use, since the invention is applicable for the purpose of connecting the adjoining portions of a single garment-sueh, for instance, as the socalled combination ga'rment-in which a change in the position of the body of the user is apt to create strain upon the fastenings of the garment and discomtiture to the wearer.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

An attachment for garments, consisting of an elastic coupling, 0, formed with a connecting device, 0, and having its opposite extremities secured to the garment, in combination with the opposed adjoining stationary bear- 

